Thermodynamically-controlled socket-switch for electric lights



MALCOLM H. BAKER, DECD.

MARIE H. BAKER, ADMINISTRATRIX.

THERMODYNAMICALLY CONTROLLED SOCKET SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED $EPT.28, 1915. RENEWED APR. 14. 1919.

1,328,479,- 4 Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MALCOLM H. BAKER, OF BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS; MARIE H. BAKER, ADMINIS-" TEATRTX OF SAID MALCOLM H. BAKER, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO KENNETH W. CROSBY, TRUSTEE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. I

THERMODYNAMICALLY-CONTROLLED SOCKET-SWITCH FOR- ELECTRTC LIGHTS.-

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 20, 1920.

Application filed Septemher28, 1915, Serial No. 58,052. BenewedAprll 14, 1919. Serial No. 290,083.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, MALCOLM H. BAKER,

' a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resi- 'ments dent of- Braintree, in the county of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts,'- have invented certain new and useful Improvein Thermodynamically-Controlled Socket-Switches for Electric Lights, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to the form of switch whichis adapted to be contained in the ordinary incandescent lamp socket, and has for its broad urpose'the provision of a slight delay, or time interval, between the act leadingto the extinguishment of the lamp and the actual breaking of the circuit electric lamps.

to produce extinguishment. I

That is, my invention provides an electric lamp socket which is turned on by the usual button, or other controlling means, in 'the applying the same to a socket, of the usual fixture orflpendant type, for incandescent I have illustrated herein thls specific form of my invention in theparticular form of a fixture socket with the usual thumb button,

or thumb key, for manual control. p

The particular object of m invention ls to provlde a form of my broa invention, in

.which will be compact,- simple,.

the shapeof a fixture or pendant socket and thoroughly reliable, and which may be directly applied to; the usual wiring in the usual manner.- Thatkis, my invention-provides a socket which maybe applied to the usual wiring by any electric wireinan, and

jsimple modification 0 connected up in the same manner as the standard sockets now in use.

Other and specific objects relating to electrical durability, ease of compact assemblage, and convenience and safet of opera-.

tion will appear, from the fol owing description and claims.

a I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my present invention in the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a sectional view of my improved, socket switch taken on the horizontal plane AA in Fig. 4; Fig. 2 is a top view of the socketshowing the supply leads therefor; Fi -3 is another sectional view taken on the orizontal plane B-B in Fig. 4; Fig. 4 isan elevation. of the-complete socket switch with certain parts ofthe socket structure shown in section onthe vertical plane 0-0 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a View looking at the right of Fig.

4, with the casing partially broken away;

1 Fig. 6 is a similar view looking at the'right of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fi 4 but showing the parts as related a er, I

actuation of the key for causing delayed extinguishinent of the li ht; Fig. 8 shows a the switch mech'-. anism by which same is adapted for a different 'operative arrangement of electrical connections Fig. 9 is a diagram indicating the electrical connections of the socket switch illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7' inclusive;

Fig. 10 is a correspondingdiagram'showing a modification of these electrical connections capable of embodiment in. the modified arrangement of switch arts shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 shows a use ul modification in dB,-

numerals.

gs identical parts are designated by like In'Figs. 1. to '7 inclusive, the usual two 1 ortions of the casing appear at 1, 2, the inding posts for the linewires appearing ats3,j."4. -A bracket 5, mounted upon an insulating base 6, carries a spring member 7 to which is attached a' contact member 8 having .a curved end 9 adapted to engage a I second contact member 10 mounted upon an has a resistance winding 14, suitably inout of engagement with the key 15, the postdefinite snap posltionlng of the key 19 at 90 degree intervals independent of the play of the key 15. Tha'tlis, at each 90 de ee sulated from said thermostat.

A key 15 is loosely pivoted at a recessed portion thereof upon a shaft. 16, and is adapted to 'be rotated thereby through the engagement of diametrically opposite projections on said shaft with the said recessed portion of the key,such engagement being .efl'ected with a definite amount of play or back-lash cooperating with the action of spring contact members engaged by said key to effect a quick tensioned-caused snap of the key when being disengaged from said membersby turning of the shaft. The shaft 16 is mounted in brackets 17, 18, attached to the top and bottom pieces 11, 6, and carries at one end a thumb key 19, of insulating material, and at the other end a cam wheel 20 engaging a double spring 21 mounted upon the bracket 17.

A contact spring 22 is mounted upon the bracket 5 and is adapted to be forced against a contact post 23 by it's own resiliency when 23 being mounted upon the base Operation is as follows, referring to the type of switch shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, in which the resistance governing the thermostat is energized by being placed in shunt across the lamp terminals, and.

which I therefore term a shunt type,- when the thumb button 19 is turned, the key 15 is thrown against the contact member 8 forcing the end 9 thereof up past the thermostat '12, which gives slightly to allow such passage, and into contact with the member 10, whi1e the. other end of the key 15 presses the spring 22 back and out of contact with the post 23. This relation 0 parts is shown in Figs. 1' and 4.

Referring to the diagram of connections, Fig. 9, it is seen that the switch is now' closed in the usual manner, the resistance 14 being dead and the pressure of the spring member 8 being carried by the key 15, so that no load rests u on the thermostat 12.

When it. is desire to extinguish the lamp, the key or thumb button 19 .is ,again turned, in either direction, a definite increment of turning being marked for-the user by the engagement of'the cam wheel 20 with the s ring 21, as hereinafter explained. The ke'y15-is now moved out of engagement both with the member 8 and the member 22. The latter then springs against the post 23 thus closing a shunt circuit across the lamp terminals and through the resistance 14, while the former moves down slightly until caught and held by the end 13 of the thermostat 12,

the spring member. 10 following up the end 9 and maintaining engagement therewith, whereby the lamp circuit is maintained closed. "The lamp now continues to operate unchanged, but, the resistance 14 now being energized, the thermostat is heated, bends away from the member 8, and releases the end 9 of said member, whereat'the resiliency of said member springs open the contacts 10, 9, thus opening the circuit with the proper snap action. The interval during which the thermostat is operating affords the required time interval to precede extinguishment of the lamp.

When the contacts 10, 9, are opened both the lamp circuit and the resistance circuit are dead, since" the said latter circuit is shunted at one end at. a point between the contacts 10, 9, and the lamp terminal related therewith. v I

Because'of the before mentioned play or back-lash between the .key 15/ and its actu-,

ating shaft 16, I find thatthe user of the switch lacks definite indlcation as to just when he has turned the key properly to the off position, and is liable to turn'the same past such off position and to the on position again. To guard against this provide the parts 29, 21, which give a turn of the thumb key 19 a definite clic is heard by the user, independent of the action of the. other key 15, and this click serves to notify the said usher that the thumb key has been properly turnedto extinguish the light. I

This is particularly needful in the shunt form of switch above described, since no apparent change immediately occursin the light when the thumb key is turned off.

In Figs. 8 and 10 I have illustrated my improved switch arranged so that the resistance governin the thermostat is switched solely into serles with the lamp when the thumb key is turned to the off position. and this I- term the series type. Oper ation is the same as the foregoing save that, while the lamp is in normal operation, the

' key 15 completes a shunt circult around the resistance 14 so that same is operatively dead. 1 When turned to the, offv position the contact's'between one end of the key 15 and the member 8, and between-the other end of the said key and the member 24 are broken, thus placing the resistance 14 directly inv series with the circuit, and thereby actuatin course s 'ghtly dimmed when the key is" turned off and I find this of advantage the thermostat; The lamp is of 1 The position of parts assumed while the ing on the thumb key after the same has been turned off and before the light has gone out. That is, means -to prevent the user turning the said key past the OE position and to the on position when he only desires to place the key in the off position. Such a mistake, of course, might re- "sult in said user leaving the light under the on position.

the impression that it would shortly go out, while, on the other hand said light would then continue to burn indefinitely. These means comprise a resilient piece 25 carried by the contact member '8 and provided with an openin 26 into which the end of the key 15 slips w en said ke is turned away from aid key is now locked until the member 8 is released and the light extinguished,-at which time the piece 25 is moved out of engagement with said key, as'

shown in broken lines, and the thumb button then freed to be operated as usual. I

In order to attach the line wires of the usual circuitto the switch, I providebinding post 3, 4, upon the top plate 11, and I hold'the top shell 1 by ordinary bayonet lock and screw devices 26, 27. The lower shell 2 I generally prefer to spin over on 'the top plate whereby said shell is held per manently in place and the user prevented from tampering with the switch mechanism.

It will be evident that "within the spirit of my invention the precise form and arrangei'nent of parts, herein disclosed for illustrative purposes only, are capable of modification further than the examples herein shown, and without therefore limit ing the scope of the invention to such pro cise embodiment what I claim as new is:

1.- In an electric lamp socket switch, in combination; a current path through the switch to one terminal of the lamp; a return current path through the switch. from the other terminal of the lamp; a pair of cooperativecontact members in series with.

.. said first path, one of said members being --close said shunt circuit; and manual con.

resiliently mounted normally to separate from the other member; a flexing, resilient thermostat positioned when normally cool to prevent contact breaking. movement of said resiliently mounted member relative to said other member; a resistance winding carried by -said thermostat for heating the same; a

shunt circuit across the lamp terminals andcontaining said resistance winding; an auxiliary contact 'devlce adapted normally to axis, and substantiall trol means adapted by engagement with said resiliently mounted member to move the latter into contact with said other member and simultaneously to actuate said device for opening said shunt circuit, and further arranged when withdrawn from engagement with said resiliently] mounted member, to

. permit said auxiliary contact device to close the said'shunt circuit,-thereby to energize said thermostat for permitting circuitbreaking movement of said, resiliently mounted member after a predetermined time. 1

2. In a combined switch and lamp socket structure, in combination with upper and lower holding and insulatingplates arranged substantially parallel one with the other, a resilientlymounted contact memher arranged. forv movement substantially along the axis of saidplates, .a thermostat arranged substantially parallel with said in the plane of movement of saidmem er and formed and positioned at its free end for latching engagement with saidv conta'ct member in atension-opposed and circuit-breaking position of the latterwhereby circuit-breaking movement of said memberjs delayed, controlling means embodying a key device;

adapted to engage said resiliently mounted member and pivoted to rotate in the plane of said member, and a second resiliently mounted contact meinber adapted to be engaged by the said key, atthe opp'ositeend thereof}, simultaneously with. the engagement of said key with said first mentioned resiliently mounted member ;-whereby said key, during operative movement thereof. governs said second resiliently mounted contact to make and break a resistance ClI'Gllll'.

arranged inshuntto the lamp terminals,

governing said thermostat. y Y

3. In a combined switch and electric lam socket structure ;havinga thermostat to govern the opening action of the switch, a re siliently ,mou'nt'ed contact member normally tensionedto open the switch, a key adapt-- ed to engage said member to close the switch by causing engagement of said memberwitn another contact member, and a shaft mount} ing for said key to which the .latteris'attached with limited rotative freedom; to-

gether with detent' mechanism to position said shaftin a plurality of its rotative positions and independent of said key; whereby, when said shaft is mov d from one toanother of said pluralit of positions, at a time when said key engages said resiliently mounted member and when said'thermm static dentent is deenergized, said key disengages'said resiliently mounted member with a snap action and permits said latter member subsequently; to open the switch with a snap "action.

movable to a definite 4. In a thermostatically governed electric socket switch, in combination with contact members having relative oscillatory movement to open and close the switch, and a thermostatic detent cooperatively positioned therewith, after circuit closing movement of said members, to delay the opening movement thereof; common controlling means movable to a definite position to close the switch and u on subsequent movement thereof to a di erent position to cause delayed opening of the switch; and detent means arranged to lock said controlling means in said different position when the switch is closed. 5

5. In a thermostatically governed electric socket switch, in combination with contact members having relative oscillatory movement to open and close the switch, and a thermostatic detent cooperatively positioned therewith, after circuit-closing movement of said members, to delay the opening movement thereof; common controlling means osition to close the switch and upon su sequentv movement thereof to a different position, to cause delayed opening of the switch; and detent means arranged to lock said controlling means in said different position when the switch is closed, said detent means being further arranged to be rendered inoperative bythe opening of the switch. a

6. In a socket switch structure, in combination; insulating blocks secured in spaced relation; key shaft pivoted in bearing brackets and extending transversely of said structure; a key cam-pivoted on said shaft to be loosely rotated thereby; resilient detent means for yieldingly holding said shaft in definite rotative positions; a thermostatic, contact-controlling structure embodying a common holding bracket carrying a flexin thermostat and a spring contact member rel-' atively positioned to be latched thereby in a tension-opposed position; an auxiliary contact leaf relatively positioned on the opposite side of said shaft from said member, to

be engaged by said cam simultaneously with the engagement thereby of said member," a llne terminal positioned to be contacted by sa d member in its said tension-opposed posltlo'n; an auxiliary circuit terminal 'position normally to be contacted by said auxiliary contact leaf; and a normally deie'ner gized'heatmg resistance for the thermostat,

together with circuit connections to the lamp and to. the supply whereby in one'position saidcam closes a circuit through the 'lamp alone, and whereby in another-position said. cam closes an additional circuit: in shunt theretoand containin said resistance'. L;

7. 'In' a socket swltc structure, in combie nation; insulating blocks secured in spaced relation; a .key shaft pivoted in -l;)'e'a ;ring

brackets and extending transversely of said structure; a key cam pivoted on said shaft to be loosel rotated thereby; resilient detent means or yieldingly holding said shaft in definite rotative positions; a thermostatic,

contact-controlling structure comprising a common holding bracket carrying a flexing thermostat and a sprin contact member relatively positioned to %e latched thereby in a tension-opposedposition; an auxiliary contact leaf relatively positioned on the opposite side of said shaft from said member,

to be engaged by said cam simultaneously with the engagement thereby of said member; a line terminal position to be contacted and whereby another position of said cam electrically energizes said resistance to cause delayed breaking of said circuit through the lamp. 1 1

8. In a socket switch structure; in combi-.

nation, insulating and holding blocks secured in spaced relation by bracket posts extending therebetween and substantially longitudinally of said structure; a rotatable switchoperating shaft pivoted in said brackets to extend transversely of the struc- -ture and carrying at a'central portion thereof a double-ended key cam, arranged bymeans of a pin-and-slot engagement, involving a definite amount of play, to'be rotatively impelled by said shaft the said shaft being further provided with resilient de-. tent means whereby it is yieldingly held in definite, rotative positions; a thermostatic,

lcontact-controlling structure, comprisingan angularholding bracket clamped to one of said blocks, a resilient flexing thermostat mounted on' said bracket and extending longitudinally of the stucture, a spring contact also mountedon said bracket and ex-1. tending transversely of the structure cooperatively to be engaged and latched in atension-opposed position thereof by the free end of said thermostat; and an auxiliary reand extending substantially parallel with said spring contact,-said two contacts besilient contact also mounted on said bracket cam and on opposite sides. of said operat ngshaft whereby they "are simultaneously engaged by said cam to be: 7

relatively separated;., a line terminal contact tongue secured to theIother of said blocks and-positioned to be engaged by said s ring position t erecontact in the said tensioned of; an insulated circuit terminal positioned normally to be engaged by said auxiliary, resilient contact; and a heating resistance for the'thermostat, together with electrical circuit'connections t0 the supply and to the lamp whereby movement of said cam for engagement with said contacts, closes a circuit through the lamp and opens the circuit through said reslstance, and whereby movement of said cam for disengagement from said contacts, closes the circuit through 19 I said resistance in shunt to the lamp.

Signed at Braintree, in the county of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this24th of September, 1915.

MALCOLM H. BAKER. Witnesses: v.-

RAYMOND D. SMITH,- SILVIO AMoRoso. 

